Mosquito and insect umbrella

ABSTRACT

A portable shelter made from a net material that is to be used for protection from bugs and flying insects. The roof of the shelter comprises an extended umbrella-type structure. The central supporting pole can be either affixed to the top of a table, or be located on a special support stand. The shelter sides extend downwardly and outwardly, and the base portions are held in position by stakes inserted into the ground.

United States Patent [191 Arndt et al.

[4 1 Jan. 14,1975

[ MOSQUITO AND INSECT UMBRELLA [76] Inventors: Lila Arndt; Norman J. Arndt, both of 2436 N. Sawyer Ave., Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 342,705

[52] U.S. Cl 135/2, 135/4 B, 135/15 PQ [51] Int. Cl. A451 1/04 [58] Field of Search..... 135/4 B, 4 R, 3 C, 2, 7.1 R,

135/5 B, 5 R, 46 T, 15 PQ [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 516,078 3/l894 Comstock 135/15 PQ 1,449,894 3/1923 Dial 135/4 B 1,592,356 7/1926 Goldberg et al. 135/3 C 1,843,961 2/1932 Stone 2,243,190 5/1941 Capaldo 135/46 T 2,873,750 2/1959 McCarthy 135/4 B 2,876,283 3/1959 Ames 3,003,509 10/1961 Hibbard 135/46 T 3,441,037 4/1969 Transeau l35/4 R Primary Examiner-Jordon Franklin Assistant Examiner-Conrad L. Berman Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarden S. Gordon [57] ABSTRACT 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures MOSQUITO AND INSECT UMBRELLA BACKGROUND OF INVENTION l. Field of Invention This invention relates generally to portable shelters and more particularly to a collapsible portable shelter for protection from bugs and flying insects.

2. Description of Prior Art Portable shelters are well known and many types of said portable shelters are described in prior art literatures. However, the heretofore known portable shelters have several disadvantages, among which are excessive weights, complicated structures and designs, difficulty in erecting and disassembling, excessive cost and possibility of breakage.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a portable shelter from bugs and insects.

Another object is to provide a collapsible screened shelter which is made of lightweight materials.

A further object is to provide a portable screened shelter which can be easily erected and can be easily knocked down for storing.

Still another object is to provide a screened portable collapsible shelter that has relatively smaller number of component parts and that could be manufactured easily and at a relatively lower cost.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description of the embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the umbrella mechanism of the present device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the present device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to identical parts, the present portable shelter comprises a frame assembly 1 and a cover 2. Frame assembly 1 consists of a center pole 3 of two or three portions depending on whether the shelter is placed on a support stand such as a table or on the ground. The top or first portion 4 comprises an umbrella mechanism 5. Said umbrella mechanism 5 consists of eight ribs 6 which are pivotally attached to and which radiate from the top end of said first portion 4. Four of ribs 6 are 4 long and the other four are 3' long. Said ribs 6'are arranged in such a way that their radial outer ends define a square which is 6 X 6. At the mid section of said ribs 6 are movably attached supporting ribs 7 of suitable lengths, the free ends of which are movably attached to a sleeve 8 circumscribing a portion of the center pole 3 and which sleeve is adapted to slide up or down said center pole 3 when one opens or closes the shelter.

Said first portion 4 is provided with a locking means 9 which is extending through a small opening 10 in the lower side wall of said first portion 4. Said locking means 9 can be depressed to permit the sliding of sleeve 8 up and down the first portion 4. Said sleeve 8 is provided with an opening 11 which coincides with opening 10 in a locked position.

Said first portion 4 telescopes with a second portion 12 which is of slightly smaller diameter. First portion 4 and second portion 12 are provided with corresponding holes on their sides through which transverse pins (not shown) may be inserted to keep thesecond portion 12 from sliding into the first portion 4 when the shelter is open and when said first and second portions are under pressure, and to keep them in an upright position.

Said second portion 12 is threaded at its end on which a disc 13 of about 18 inch diameter is screwed. Said disc 13 has a small threaded collar (not shown) at its center, the purpose of which is described hereinafter.

The described frame assembly is only suitable when a supporting stand such as a table is provided. However, when the umbrella-like portable shelter is to be placed directly on the ground, a third portion 14 for the center pole is necessary. (See FIG. 3.) Both ends of said third portion 14 are threaded, one end of which is screwed into the threaded collar of disc 13 and the other end is screwed into a second disc 15. This second disc serves as the support for the shelter on the ground.

The first, second and third portions of the center pole are made of a hollow, lightweight but rigid material such as aluminum tubing. This aluminum tubing is extremely tough and durable and has sufficient strength for the purpose intended.

The first and second portions are each about 3 feet 6 inches long and the third portion is about 31 inches long. The first disc is about 18 inches in diameter and the second or bottom disc is about 18 inches to 24 inches in diameter.

Cover 2 consists of two types of materials. The top portion of the frame assembly has for its covering a tent material which is cut to conform to the shape of said top portion which is a 6 X 6 foot square. The shelter sides covering consists of nylon netting fabric. Said shelter sides covering extends downwardly and outwardly and the base portions of which are held in position by stakes l6 driven into the ground. The stakes are applied in such a way that the corners of said base portion are tightly drawn to exert pressure on the center pole 3 as the shelter rests on the table or on the ground. To gain access to said portable shelter, a door 17 is provided at the covering of one of the shelter sides. Door 17 is provided with a suitable closing and opening means such as a zipper 18 which is 6 feet in length. Said closing and opening means is about 6 inches from the base portion of the shelter side covering.

Other alternative embodiments of this invention are units that can be mounted on concrete patios and those that make use of a standard beach umbrella for the roofing portion.

When used on concrete patios, stakes can not be applied. FIG. 4 shows an alternative construction of the present device which can be used on patios. It is similar in construction to the first embodiment differing in the base portion of the shelter sides covering, and using a beach umbrella. To do away with the use of stakes, the bottom sides 19 are sewn in such a way that four telescoping poles 20 could be slid into the hem of said base portion. Each of the telescoping poles is provided with a hook at one end and an eye at the other end so that said telescoping poles could be joined at the corners.

The present device can be easily manufactured by using the conventional welding and metal fastening techniques. It can be easily folded into a very compact storage configuration without breaking due to the use of nylon netting fabric.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new l. A portable collapsible screen shelter including a frame assembly and a cover comprising, in combination:

a hollow axially elongated first cylindrical member having a top end, a bottom end, and cylindrical side walls with an axial bore extending therethrough;

a second elongated cylindrical rod member having an exterior diameter less than the diameter of said first cylindrical member bore and having a top end and a bottom end, the top end of said second rod telescopically received in said bore through said bottom end of said first cylindrical member and adapted for axial reciprocal movement relative thereto;

a pair of axially aligned diametrically opposed apertures provided in the first cylindrical member adjacent the bottom end thereof;

a pair of similarly sized diametrically extending axially aligned bores provided in said second rod member adjacent the top end thereof, said first and second mentioned pairs of apertures adapted to be axially aligned with each other when that second rod is in its telescopically extended position rela tive to said first cylindrical member;

an elongated pin member adapted to be passed freely through said aligned apertures for detachably maintaining said rod and said cylindrical member in their respective telescopically extended positions, said pin being removable to permit telescopic collapsing of said second rod into said second first cylindrical member;

a hollow open-ended cylindrical shaped angular collar member permanently affixed to the top end portion of said first cylindrical member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom defining a plane normal to the axisof said first cylindrical member;

a plurality of flange members formed integrally with said angular collar member and spaced circumferentially at equal intervals thereabout;

a plurality of elongated rib members each having an inner end and an outer end;

pivot means associated with each inner end of each rib member and pivotally connecting that associated rib member to an associated flange of said angular collar for swinging movement thereabout between a collapsed position lying parallel to the axis of the first cylindrical member and an extended operable position radiating outwardly from said angular collar at an angle to the first cylindrical member;

a hollow open-ended tubular sleeve member disposed concentrically with said first cylindrical member at a position beneath the collar member and above the bottom end of the first cylindrical member, the sleeve member mounted for free sliding reciprocal movement along'the first cylindrical member between an operable position effecting the outward radiating position of said ribs and an inoperable position effecting the collapsing of said ribs to their storage position;

a multiplicity of flange members formed integrally pivot means associated with each outer end of each of said supporting ribs and pivotally connecting each outer end at a stationary position disposed intermediate the inner and outer ends of said associated rib member such that movement of said sleeve member axially along said first cylindrical member effects movement of the supporting ribs in a manner to collapse the associated ribs to the storage position or to open the ribs to the radiating operable position;

resilient boss means affixed to a portion of the exterior cylindrical side wall of said fitst cylindrical member and disposed in a position thereon adapted to engage a portion of said sleeve member when said sleeve member is in the operable position;

an axially elongated slot defined in a cylindrical side wall of said sleeve member and extending completely therethrough and adapted to engage said resilient boss member when said sleeve member is in the operable position wherein said resilient boss is engaged in said slot to retain the sleeve member so positioned, said resilient boss member depressable radially inwardly of said first cylindrical member to free the same ofsaid slot to release said sleeve member therefrom and permit movement of the sleeve member to said inoperative storage position;

the bottom end of said rod member being provided with helical screw threads over a segment of the exterior circumference thereof;

a substantially flat circular disc having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a cylindrical recess formed integrally in the center of the top surface of said disc concentrically therewith and provided with screw threads about the interior surface thereof adapted to threadably receive therein said threaded bottom end of said rod to support said rod on any suitable supporting surface;

a cylindrical recess formed integrally in the bottom surface of said disc concentrically therewith and provided with screw threads about the interiorsurface thereof;

an elongated cylindrical pole member provided with screw threads about the exterior of both ends thereof;

a second substantially flat circular disc having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a cylindrical recess formed integrally in the top surface of said second disc concentrically therewith and provided with screw threads about the interior surface thereof;

said elongated pole member adapted to have one end threadily engaged in the recess of the bottom surface of said first mentioned disc with its opposite end threadily engaged in the recess of said second disc for supporting said first mentioned disc a spaced distance above said second disc;

said shelter cover comprising a roof portion and four sidewall portions joined along their top edges with the roof portion and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom;

said roof portion being of a generally pyramidal shape and manufactured of tent material and of a size and configuration adapted to be supported by said rib members when in the radiating operative position;

each of said sidewalls being manufactured of nylon netting fabric material with each being in the form of a truncated pyramidal shape and each having its top edges permanently affixed to the adjacent side edges of said roof portion with each of the sides ex tending downwardly and outwardly therefrom to define base end portions adapted to be placed in resting engagement with the ground;

a zipper extending vertically through one of said sidewall surfaces from the base end portion thereof to the top edge thereof for providing ingress and egress of the shelter when in the operative position;

a horizontally elongated open-ended pocket formed integrally completely along the bottom base end edge of each sidewall surface, each pocket defined and formed by the sidewall surface being folded back onto itself in an overlapping manner and with the overlapped edge being permanently secured to the side surface to form the elongated pocket therealong;

a plurality of elongated cylindrical telescoping poles each including a pair of telescoping segments with each pole having a front end and a back end, each pole associated with one of the sidewall pockets and being axially inserted through the associated pocket providing support and rigidification of the sidewall base bottom edge;

a hook member provided at the front end of each of the telescoping poles;

an eyelet type aperture provided at the back end of each of the telescoping poles;

the telescopic poles being joined together at their juncture points to provide a rigid rectangularly shaped base frame for the shelter which is apart from and separate from the supporting frame assembly, the joining at the juncture point being by the engagement of a hook member of one pole engaging the eyelet member of the adjacent pole at the meeting corner of adjacent side surfaces;

whereby a flexible joint is provided between adjacent poles with an overall rigidifying of the base end bottom edge portions of said cover. 

1. A portable collApsible screen shelter including a frame assembly and a cover comprising, in combination: a hollow axially elongated first cylindrical member having a top end, a bottom end, and cylindrical side walls with an axial bore extending therethrough; a second elongated cylindrical rod member having an exterior diameter less than the diameter of said first cylindrical member bore and having a top end and a bottom end, the top end of said second rod telescopically received in said bore through said bottom end of said first cylindrical member and adapted for axial reciprocal movement relative thereto; a pair of axially aligned diametrically opposed apertures provided in the first cylindrical member adjacent the bottom end thereof; a pair of similarly sized diametrically extending axially aligned bores provided in said second rod member adjacent the top end thereof, said first and second mentioned pairs of apertures adapted to be axially aligned with each other when that second rod is in its telescopically extended position relative to said first cylindrical member; an elongated pin member adapted to be passed freely through said aligned apertures for detachably maintaining said rod and said cylindrical member in their respective telescopically extended positions, said pin being removable to permit telescopic collapsing of said second rod into said second first cylindrical member; a hollow open-ended cylindrical shaped angular collar member permanently affixed to the top end portion of said first cylindrical member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom defining a plane normal to the axis of said first cylindrical member; a plurality of flange members formed integrally with said angular collar member and spaced circumferentially at equal intervals thereabout; a plurality of elongated rib members each having an inner end and an outer end; pivot means associated with each inner end of each rib member and pivotally connecting that associated rib member to an associated flange of said angular collar for swinging movement thereabout between a collapsed position lying parallel to the axis of the first cylindrical member and an extended operable position radiating outwardly from said angular collar at an angle to the first cylindrical member; a hollow open-ended tubular sleeve member disposed concentrically with said first cylindrical member at a position beneath the collar member and above the bottom end of the first cylindrical member, the sleeve member mounted for free sliding reciprocal movement along the first cylindrical member between an operable position effecting the outward radiating position of said ribs and an inoperable position effecting the collapsing of said ribs to their storage position; a multiplicity of flange members formed integrally with the sleeve member above the top end portion thereof and spaced at equal distances circumferally thereabout, said sleeve flange members being equal in number and circumferal spacing to said angular collar member flange members; a plurality of rigid supporting ribs equal in number to the number of said rib members with each supporting rib being of a flat elongated rectangular configuration having an inner end and an outer end; pivot means associated with each supporting rib and pivotally connecting its inner end to an associated flange of said sleeve member; pivot means associated with each outer end of each of said supporting ribs and pivotally connecting each outer end at a stationary position disposed intermediate the inner and outer ends of said associated rib member such that movement of said sleeve member axially along said first cylindrical member effects movement of the supporting ribs in a manner to collapse the associated ribs to the storage position or to open the ribs to the radiating operable position; resilient boss means affixed to a portion of the exterior cylindrical side wall of said first cylindrical member and disposed in a position thereon aDapted to engage a portion of said sleeve member when said sleeve member is in the operable position; an axially elongated slot defined in a cylindrical side wall of said sleeve member and extending completely therethrough and adapted to engage said resilient boss member when said sleeve member is in the operable position wherein said resilient boss is engaged in said slot to retain the sleeve member so positioned, said resilient boss member depressable radially inwardly of said first cylindrical member to free the same of said slot to release said sleeve member therefrom and permit movement of the sleeve member to said inoperative storage position; the bottom end of said rod member being provided with helical screw threads over a segment of the exterior circumference thereof; a substantially flat circular disc having a top surface and a bottom surface; a cylindrical recess formed integrally in the center of the top surface of said disc concentrically therewith and provided with screw threads about the interior surface thereof adapted to threadably receive therein said threaded bottom end of said rod to support said rod on any suitable supporting surface; a cylindrical recess formed integrally in the bottom surface of said disc concentrically therewith and provided with screw threads about the interior surface thereof; an elongated cylindrical pole member provided with screw threads about the exterior of both ends thereof; a second substantially flat circular disc having a top surface and a bottom surface; a cylindrical recess formed integrally in the top surface of said second disc concentrically therewith and provided with screw threads about the interior surface thereof; said elongated pole member adapted to have one end threadily engaged in the recess of the bottom surface of said first mentioned disc with its opposite end threadily engaged in the recess of said second disc for supporting said first mentioned disc a spaced distance above said second disc; said shelter cover comprising a roof portion and four sidewall portions joined along their top edges with the roof portion and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom; said roof portion being of a generally pyramidal shape and manufactured of tent material and of a size and configuration adapted to be supported by said rib members when in the radiating operative position; each of said sidewalls being manufactured of nylon netting fabric material with each being in the form of a truncated pyramidal shape and each having its top edges permanently affixed to the adjacent side edges of said roof portion with each of the sides extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom to define base end portions adapted to be placed in resting engagement with the ground; a zipper extending vertically through one of said sidewall surfaces from the base end portion thereof to the top edge thereof for providing ingress and egress of the shelter when in the operative position; a horizontally elongated open-ended pocket formed integrally completely along the bottom base end edge of each sidewall surface, each pocket defined and formed by the sidewall surface being folded back onto itself in an overlapping manner and with the overlapped edge being permanently secured to the side surface to form the elongated pocket therealong; a plurality of elongated cylindrical telescoping poles each including a pair of telescoping segments with each pole having a front end and a back end, each pole associated with one of the sidewall pockets and being axially inserted through the associated pocket providing support and rigidification of the sidewall base bottom edge; a hook member provided at the front end of each of the telescoping poles; an eyelet type aperture provided at the back end of each of the telescoping poles; the telescopic poles being joined together at their juncture points to provide a rigid rectangularly shaped base frame for the shelter which is apart froM and 